Pure Geekness

SUMMER KNIGHTS: BEST BAT VILLIANS

By @hmsbeefnuts

Summer Knights continues here at All Geek To Me, and I hope you are enjoying it? Today we are going to have a look at some of The Dark Knights greatest enemies, the most maniacal members of his rogues gallery. In my opinion, Batman has some of the greatest super villains to fight of any superhero. Some of the sickest bastards to ever spout a speech bubble. So lets see who makes the list shall we?

JOKER

Obvious really isn’t it? But how could I not choose the Clown Prince of Crime on this list? He is the Yin to Batman’s Yan. The smiling faced psychopath to Batman Dark Avenger. He has been responsible for causing more pain in Batman’s life than any other person, killing friends, and crippling allies. He is the sickest, most sadistic super villain who has ever been written, and is Batman’s nemesis. Joker has to be number 1 on any list of the super evil.

RAS AL GHUL

I tend to like villains in this mould, like Vandal Savage. A man who has lived for centuries, thanks to his Lazarus Pits, that allow him to maintain his youth and vigour. Ras Al Ghul is a villain that both admires and hates The Detective, even considering him worthy of marrying his daughter Talia. Ghul is a global threat, his League of Shadows organisation is just a stones throw away from Batman, but crucially, Batman will never cross the line and join them. Grandfather to Batman’s son Damien, Ras Al Ghul is a dangerous and complicated addition to the rogues gallery.

TWO FACE

Gotham used to believe in Harvey Dent, but a horrific attack with some acid in court, or a fire, depending on who you believe, turned Gotham’s White Knight, into one of it’s greatest threats. Obsessed with his injury, Two Face took his anger out on a city that was already drowning in crime. With his lucky coin deciding many a fate, Two Face is almost a match for Batman both physically and mentally, but being deranged, well, he doesn’t always think straight, depends what mood he is in.

THE MAD HATTER

At first glance, the Mad Hatter is a childish and ridiculous enemy, and certainly, that’s how he started. However, in more modern times, The Mad Hatter has been re imagined as a dangerous, deranged criminal, with a penchant for small children and mind control. The Dark nature of Mad Hatter’s crimes make him perfect punching material for The Caped Crusader.

SCARECROW

Batman uses fear as a weapon on the criminal element of Gotham City. How cool is it then that Dr Jonathon Crane, uses it against The Dark Knight? Scarecrow is one of the most striking enemies that Batman faces. Posing no real physical threat, Scarecrow is all about psychological fear. His weaponised fear gas is a powerful advantage for Dr Crane. I tend to love classical villain archetypes, and Scarecrow goes right back to Sleepy Hollow.

BANE

Bane is the equal of Batman, both physically and mentally.He is the man who broke the bat, but things aren’t quite so clear cut. At times, Batman has worked with Bane, but usually, they are working against each other. Bane has had a tough life, growing up in South American prisons, and killing to survive. His reliance on the drug Venom can cause increased pain resistance, and increased strength. Bane is a very dangerous enemy, that Batman does not take lightly.

CATWOMAN

A complicated relationship with The Dark Knight, does not even begin to explain Catwoman’s interactions with Batman. At times deadly enemy, lover and ally, Catwoman is everything to everyone. Sexy, devious, loyal, tough, vulnerable, Selena Kyle is a fantastic addition to Gotham City. You can’t really argue with an outfit like that can you? I’m sure Batman doesn’t mind running into Selena on a nightly patrol, she may be deadly, but she is also a hell of a lot of fun.

POISON IVY

Oh Poison Ivy, I don’t care if you are green, unhinged, deadly and can control plants, you are sexy as hell. I’m a sucker for red heads, and Dr Pamela Isely is one of the very sexiest. An environmentalist, literally, Ivy prefers plants to humans, something I can see the advantage of, at least with certain people. One of Batman’s most deadly enemies, Poison Ivy should not be judged on her beauty alone, and should not be taken lightly. She is damn sexy though….